2009

It's New Year's Eve. I always think back to years we spent with friends, going out on the town and ringing in the New Year in cocktail dresses and blowing horns. Those years were fun, but very different from where we are now.

Ironically, the first New Year's Eve I had with a newborn baby, Eric had also taken over the youth group at our church. That started a different tradition and since then, we have celebrated New Year's Eve with many, many teenagers.

This year will be no different, so today I am enjoying the quietness of our home. I'm getting laundry caught up completely. (My grandmother had this thing about never having dirty laundry on New Year's Day and the idea has stuck. I'm afraid to now :)

Some things I'm thinking about ...

The best things about 2009....
Watching my girls grow and be happy.
Completed 2 in-depth bible studies on Esther and Daniel.
Watching Eric enjoy going to work each day.
Having a healthy family (after a few scares).
A beach trip with my parents and extended family.
Started running / exercising / ran in a 5K.
Scripture Memory Team with LPM.

Things I want to do in 2010....
Teach O to read.
Travel.
Go on bike rides with my girls (requires repairing my bike that I haven't been on in 10 years!)
Ride the Virginia Creeper (I have wanted to do this for years!!)
Run in another 5K (or 2 or 3).
Find the means for E to learn the foreign language she wants so much to learn.
Go on more date-nights with Eric.

Some things I would change if I could ...
I would slow down. Not get caught up in busyness that takes away from relationships and time with one another.

I would live with no regrets.

I have been caught saying, "If this happens, at least I can say I'll have no regrets." I've learned that I kid myself when I say such nonsense. Getting caught up in daily obligations and busyness puts me in a place of regret. Everyday.

I regret I couldn't talk to ______ longer. I regret I didn't take a moment to drop a card in the mail to ________. I regret I didn't spend a few more minutes playing with my children instead of sending them away to play by themselves. I was too busy ________. I regret not picking up the phone to call a friend instead of sending a quick text message. I regret not spending more time with my friend face-to-face before she was gone.

I'm asking God to show me areas in my life I need to change. I'm asking Him to give me wisdom to choose things wisely when it comes to filling our days. I'm asking Him for balance which I know is His will, so it will require my obedience.

"So teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Psalm 90:12